Id rather have CC but certainly you cant argue with Pettitte. But the comment " I dont even care if its against Lee" is kind of silly. For obvious reasons
I would rather have Pettitte if only because he has pitched the best game we have had in this series. And I don't care if it is against Lee. We are due against him and Pettitte has more experience in huge games then that entire team combined. Wood will bring a swagger and I believe those two will intimidate the Rangers.
The Fat Lady cleared her throat, tapped on the microphone, and walked off the stage. The Yankees are still alive, baby!
I don't see how preferring Pettitte to anyone else on the team means you don't care if you're facing Lee or not.
It means I think he can beat anybody in a game 7...anybody they could throw out there from any team currently still standing. Lee, Halladay, whomever. Lee is who we get, we don't have a choice so all I am saying is I don't care. Playing in Texas is not a disadvantage to him and playing under extreme pressure is his forte.
I think you guys are reading it the wrong way. I read that more as saying, "I don't care if we're facing Sandy Fucking Koufax*, I like the Yankees' chances in any do-or-die game with Pettitte on the mound." * - But insert Lee for Koufax. I just changed the name to make the emphasis more clear.
Not to rehash this but perhaps the fault is on my use of the term "heart" then. I'm simply equating "heart" to the human element of the game. The main component being that this team looked sapped of emotion and drive before yesterday evening. Sterling mentioned that you could actually see the relief on Swisher's face as he rounded the bases yesterday. Waldman mentioned that in her pregame interviews players talked about how Mo and Girardi spoke to the team after game 4 and they honestly suddenly seemed like they didn't feel like it was over yet. That's what I mean when I mention heart. That drive that can push a guy back to or above his own standard in the pressure moments, or the lack of which can put him in the kind of slump he feels like he's never going to break. It makes me laugh that everyone credits the Rangers with "doing it the right way" yet everyone (general term, not pointing at you) ignores that the biggest piece of their puzzle, Lee, was bought and paid for with every other team's money. The Yankees have at least always done it with their own money. (Again, not calling you out, it was just a good segway for me to make the point.) This was actually the interesting story of the game for me. I'm starting to think that maybe next year Cano belongs in the 3 hole, ARod cleanup and Tex should hit 5th. Hughes pitches tomorrow, but Andy goes up against Lee again. I'd venture to guess Burnett doesn't throw another pitch this series. FTR, I'm with you and Tee on this one. Whenever the Yankees do something positive they almost sound disappointed. Honestly, if the 880 audio was in sync with the telecast I'd just listen to Sterling/Waldman while watching. The only problem with that, and I mostly agree with you except I'd rather have CC on regular rest or Cliff Lee on regular rest pitching for us, is that it's not a 1-to-1 Lee vs. Pettitte. It's Pettitte against the Rangers' lineup, and Lee against the Yankees' lineup. As we saw the other day, Pettitte can pitch great and still lose. Yes, it's wonderful that we have Andy for game 7, but I'd rather it was against any other current MLB pitcher not named Lee or Halladay. In the end though, I'd rather have the opportunity to face Lee than not.
We know what "heart" is. It's just silly to try to use it as a reason why a baseball game is lost. What, they didn't have heart for Games 2, 3, and 4, but then, all of a sudden, in Game 5 they did? They didn't have the drive to compete or want to win a title... until Girardi talked to them and motivated them? Come on. Yes, there's a human element to the game. Yes, focus is important, and focus varies. The elite players and teams are the ones who are able to minimize the amount that their focus varies and who are able to prevent it from overwhelming them in pressure situations. But the idea that the team wasn't trying or didn't care is just ludicrous. Especially when it's used in a bitchfest about losing to one of the best lefties in the game.
Not a bad idea until he proves he can hit in April, May and October. He is great when they are just playing out the string though.
Again, the Lee trade barely increased their payroll at all. It wasn't like they went out and made a big free agent signing with other team's money, because they wouldn't have been allowed to do that. Strict guidelines were set forth for what Texas could and could not do, restricting them more than any other club. They deserve credit for managing to work it out.
"If New York Yankees starter Phil Hughes needs any help getting through Game 6 against the Texas Rangers on Friday night, CC Sabathia will be there to back him up. Sabathia, who threw 112 pitches in six innings to help the Yankees to a 7-2 victory on Wednesday in Game 5, says he will be available to pitch in relief on Friday." http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/22/sabathia-available-in-relief-in-game-6/ Also good to see Swisher say fuck Cliff Lee. I hope the rest of them pick up on that too. http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/22/nick-swisher-‘can’t-wait-to-hit-against’-cliff-lee/
They budgeted the money that they had well, no question. But it wasn't their money. It doesn't matter that they worked within the guidelines they were given. People bitch about the Yankees, and they always work within the guidelines they're given. That's my point. It's a complete double-standard. I understand. It's easy for everyone to hate the Yankees. I get it. I read yesterday that CC said he was available to throw 45 to 60 pitches in both games 6 and 7, if needed. That's the kind of heart I want to see from guys.
My friend and I were talking, he feels the Rangers series has been more exciting than the Angels series last year. More fun to watch too. I remember having more fun winning. What do you guys think?
I'm really glad that Swisher and CC and the other Yankees have publicly stated that they really want to win the next two baseball games.
I honestly don't recall anything from last year apart from what you see in my sig. As for this series, it's not exciting to me. It's stressful. The Minnesota series was exciting. I don't like competition. I like destroying the opponent. That's why Sundays give me heartburn.
